Brian Wilson / Al Jardine / Blondie Chaplin Fall 2015 Tour Thread

[carolinablonde]

I'm very happy to see Wake The World and Busy Doin' Nothin' back in the setlist after being dropped for the last few shows. Looks like Please Let Me Wonder took place of Surf's Up.

I'll be going to the show in Raleigh and wonder if Wild Honey will be dropped without Blondie. If so, I hope they give Al Honkin' Down The Highway.

I'll be at the same show as well and would LOVE to hear Honkin' Down The Highway, since it's one of my favorite Beach Boys songs.  I had planned on driving to DC or Baltimore to catch a Brian show, so I was absolutely elated to find out that Brian and company would be less than 1.5 hours from me.  I'll be checking one thing off my bucket list that night!

[HeyJude]

I'm very happy to see Wake The World and Busy Doin' Nothin' back in the setlist after being dropped for the last few shows. Looks like Please Let Me Wonder took place of Surf's Up.

I'll be going to the show in Raleigh and wonder if Wild Honey will be dropped without Blondie. If so, I hope they give Al Honkin' Down The Highway.

On the one hand, I could see them easily dropping the Blondie numbers if Blondie isn’t there. But Scott regularly sings “Sail on Sailor”, and I believe Matt sang “Wild Honey” with Brian’s band at one or both of the two UK gigs he did with them last summer. Both numbers are certainly possible.

“Honkin’ Down the Highway” seems like a no-brainer; Brian wrote it, Al sang it, Al then covered it years later (with Brian singing backing vocals), and Al has subsequently done it at some of his shows. Yet, we’ve seen no sign of it for any Brian tours, and Al has done probably over 50-60 shows with Brian since 2013. They’ve even rehearsed “Lookin’ at Tomorrow” (last year), yet nothing of “Honkin’.” But it certainly seems plausible. We can only hope.

I was holding out hope that they’d do something weird setlist-wise in San Francisco. I truly can’t complain, though. At least eight of the songs (if we’re counting lead vocal switches) were different from opening night in Saratoga. As I’ve noted before, one-off shows and short “mini tours” usually don’t produce the most adventurous setlists. But seriously, I still have to pinch myself getting to see Brian, Al, and Blondie all on stage. I also have to reiterate that Matt is kicking ass on the falsetto parts, and he looks like he’s working it too, he’s really into it. Best falsetto parts I’ve heard as far as Brian touring bands. I feel more confident saying that after having seen Matt twice with Brian now. Seriously, it isn’t Foskett-knocking at all. Foskett’s great too. But Matt sounds better with this band.

Also, as noted above, this was the most audible I’ve probably ever heard Brian on piano/keyboard. He was doing a really cool piano part throughout, I believe, “In My Room.” He was louder than anyone else in the band, and was doing a cool piano part in a higher register than usual. Cool stuff. With Darian and Scott both up front with their keyboards, it’s easy to tell when it’s Brian who is most audible in the mix.

Other funny bits: Al’s mic stand kept dropping down, which he seemed to find both annoying and funny. He went with it though and just kept singing. Nobody ever came around to fix it, so I suppose Al fixed it himself eventually. The band seemed to find it funny that Brian “introduced” Al about three different times. The band also biffed the ending to “You’re So Good To Me” a little bit, but actually covered it up well and just kept going even longer.

It was also cool to finally get band intros. On opening night in Saratoga, as Mertens was getting ready to introduce the band for the encore, the entire band walked on and Brian just started in on the next song, so Mertens skipped any intros.

This band also just owns the “Wake the World/Busy Doin’ Nothin’” pairing. They totally smoke on “Busy Doin’ Nothin’” instrumentally. No other BB-related band past or present could do this song with the ease and perfection that this band does. As I’ve often said, I’m not even a HUGE fan of the song, but they kick ass on it.

[chaki]

Agreed about Busy Doing Nothing it was incredible. You're So Good to me was messy as hell lol.

[HeyJude]

If they were the same size, I'd swear Blondie and Al swapped suits for this show:

[guitarfool2002]

If they were the same size, I'd swear Blondie and Al swapped suits for this show:

I hope we get more opportunities to see this lineup in the future. Terrific.

Agreed on the suits...now what if Al were playing the Les Paul and Blondie had the Strat?   

[Emdeeh]

On the one hand, I could see them easily dropping the Blondie numbers if Blondie isn’t there. But Scott regularly sings “Sail on Sailor”, and I believe Matt sang “Wild Honey” with Brian’s band at one or both of the two UK gigs he did with them last summer. Both numbers are certainly possible.

Not to take anything at all away from Blondie -- or Carl -- but Matt does a killer live reading of WH.

Two new dates for Brian and Al:
Nov. 11 -- Waukegan, IL (Genesee Theatre)
Nov. 14 -- Cincinnati, OH (Taft Theatre)

[HeyJude]

On the one hand, I could see them easily dropping the Blondie numbers if Blondie isn’t there. But Scott regularly sings “Sail on Sailor”, and I believe Matt sang “Wild Honey” with Brian’s band at one or both of the two UK gigs he did with them last summer. Both numbers are certainly possible.

Not to take anything at all away from Blondie -- or Carl -- but Matt does a killer live reading of WH.

Two new dates for Brian and Al:
Nov. 11 -- Waukegan, IL (Genesee Theatre)
Nov. 14 -- Cincinnati, OH (Taft Theatre)

I've added the two new dates to the opening post.

Matt does a good "Wild Honey"; I got to see him do it with Family & Friends in 2000. I hadn't heard that they had done it late in 1999 in Las Vegas, so it was a total surprise when they busted that song out.

While Brian has been doing it on and off for awhile, I'm sorry to see Matt's turn on "She Knows Me Too Well" has been dropped from the setlist for awhile now. I saw him sing it with Brian opening night in June, and he sounds great on that one too.

I still think, outside of the obvious falsetto parts, they could best use Matt's voice by adding a mid-era Carl track like "Trader" to the setlist. Or, if they want to promote the new album still, they could try out "Saturday Night" with Matt on lead (he evidently did the "guide" vocal for the song in the studio).

[guitarfool2002]

There is no substitute for Blondie singing lead on Sail On Sailor and trading leads with Al and Brian on Sail Away, though. Along with the other highlights. It would be awesome if there were chances to work in more early 70's tunes for Blondie as well.

[HeyJude]

There is no substitute for Blondie singing lead on Sail On Sailor and trading leads with Al and Brian on Sail Away, though. Along with the other highlights. It would be awesome if there were chances to work in more early 70's tunes for Blondie as well.

They could definitely try to work *something* else in for him to sing other than 2 and 1/3 leads. Though, how much that might evolve will depend on whether he ends up appearing at any of the next group of gigs. It's not looking like it right now.

I'd just as soon see them drop "Sail on Sailor" if Blondie isn't there, and add something different. Scott's leads on the song have always been just fine, but his voice doesn't seem to suit the song as well. Even Brian gives the song a little more edge and gruffness when he sings it compared to Scott.

[guitarfool2002]

There is no substitute for Blondie singing lead on Sail On Sailor and trading leads with Al and Brian on Sail Away, though. Along with the other highlights. It would be awesome if there were chances to work in more early 70's tunes for Blondie as well.

They could definitely try to work *something* else in for him to sing other than 2 and 1/3 leads. Though, how much that might evolve will depend on whether he ends up appearing at any of the next group of gigs. It's not looking like it right now.

I'd just as soon see them drop "Sail on Sailor" if Blondie isn't there, and add something different. Scott's leads on the song have always been just fine, but his voice doesn't seem to suit the song as well. Even Brian gives the song a little more edge and gruffness when he sings it compared to Scott.

Let's just say I hope Blondie continues with the band and I'm pretty certain that if asked, 99% of the fans would agree!

[HeyJude]

There is no substitute for Blondie singing lead on Sail On Sailor and trading leads with Al and Brian on Sail Away, though. Along with the other highlights. It would be awesome if there were chances to work in more early 70's tunes for Blondie as well.

They could definitely try to work *something* else in for him to sing other than 2 and 1/3 leads. Though, how much that might evolve will depend on whether he ends up appearing at any of the next group of gigs. It's not looking like it right now.

I'd just as soon see them drop "Sail on Sailor" if Blondie isn't there, and add something different. Scott's leads on the song have always been just fine, but his voice doesn't seem to suit the song as well. Even Brian gives the song a little more edge and gruffness when he sings it compared to Scott.

Let's just say I hope Blondie continues with the band and I'm pretty certain that if asked, 99% of the fans would agree!

Agreed. I think the only reason, at this particular moment in time, that Blondie wouldn’t be at gigs would be either budgetary concerns (some of the venues on the scheduled dates are smaller, and ticket prices are not as high as some gigs such as SF), or if Blondie has something else scheduled.

If nothing else, if both Blondie and Darian are absent for the October dates, it might at least lead to some different setlist picks, as Darian and Blondie have been singing two songs each at many of the gigs.

I also get the sense they are flying by the set of their pants just a tiny bit in how they’re scheduling/announcing these fall tour dates; maybe they don’t know if Blondie will be there or not.

[guitarfool2002]

There is no substitute for Blondie singing lead on Sail On Sailor and trading leads with Al and Brian on Sail Away, though. Along with the other highlights. It would be awesome if there were chances to work in more early 70's tunes for Blondie as well.

They could definitely try to work *something* else in for him to sing other than 2 and 1/3 leads. Though, how much that might evolve will depend on whether he ends up appearing at any of the next group of gigs. It's not looking like it right now.

I'd just as soon see them drop "Sail on Sailor" if Blondie isn't there, and add something different. Scott's leads on the song have always been just fine, but his voice doesn't seem to suit the song as well. Even Brian gives the song a little more edge and gruffness when he sings it compared to Scott.

Let's just say I hope Blondie continues with the band and I'm pretty certain that if asked, 99% of the fans would agree!

Agreed. I think the only reason, at this particular moment in time, that Blondie wouldn’t be at gigs would be either budgetary concerns (some of the venues on the scheduled dates are smaller, and ticket prices are not as high as some gigs such as SF), or if Blondie has something else scheduled.

If nothing else, if both Blondie and Darian are absent for the October dates, it might at least lead to some different setlist picks, as Darian and Blondie have been singing two songs each at many of the gigs.

I also get the sense they are flying by the set of their pants just a tiny bit in how they’re scheduling/announcing these fall tour dates; maybe they don’t know if Blondie will be there or not.

Yeah, I *hope* Blondie continues and think most of the fans would agree, but I've also seen various Brian shows where band members were absent, from the Smile show where Jeff was sick and couldn't play the show, to a Boston outdoor show where Darian wasn't there due to another tour commitment [and that was the show where either Probyn or Scott took a wicked spill as they were running out onto the stage (it had been raining)], and a show in May where Al, Blondie, and Mike D didn't appear at all. Each time, this core band is so good at what they do, the performances were still solid as hell.

But having the Al-Blondie-Matt voices and instruments in the mix was really special when they were all there this summer.

[HeyJude]

For sure, the band is tight enough that they can make it work with any number of alterations. I caught one of the Al/Brian June, 2007 shows where Gary Griffin and Billy Hinche were fill-ins, and that show was still great (even with Brian infamously laying down on stage half-way through).

The band sounded a little rusty at this past May’s “NonComm” show, but I think that more to do with the one-off nature of the show as opposed to the smaller band.

[WonderfulLittlePad]

I got tickets third row for the Biloxi show in December.  Does anybody know of Darian will be there?

[The Cincinnati Kid]

On the one hand, I could see them easily dropping the Blondie numbers if Blondie isn’t there. But Scott regularly sings “Sail on Sailor”, and I believe Matt sang “Wild Honey” with Brian’s band at one or both of the two UK gigs he did with them last summer. Both numbers are certainly possible.

Not to take anything at all away from Blondie -- or Carl -- but Matt does a killer live reading of WH.

Two new dates for Brian and Al:
Nov. 11 -- Waukegan, IL (Genesee Theatre)
Nov. 14 -- Cincinnati, OH (Taft Theatre)

Ahhhh yeahhh!!  

[KDS]

There is no substitute for Blondie singing lead on Sail On Sailor and trading leads with Al and Brian on Sail Away, though. Along with the other highlights. It would be awesome if there were chances to work in more early 70's tunes for Blondie as well.

I'd love to see that.  I know they were rehearsing Funky Pretty during the summer, but I'd love a live outing for Leaving This Town.  And Hold On Dear Brother sounded great on the Soundstage DVD.  That would be a cool song to add. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

I got tickets third row for the Biloxi show in December.  Does anybody know of Darian will be there?

Zombies tour will be over, chances are excellent.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Oooohh -- looking dapper in that blue suit, Al!

 

The suit is cool. The sneakers... not so much. 

[Matt H]

On the one hand, I could see them easily dropping the Blondie numbers if Blondie isn’t there. But Scott regularly sings “Sail on Sailor”, and I believe Matt sang “Wild Honey” with Brian’s band at one or both of the two UK gigs he did with them last summer. Both numbers are certainly possible.

Not to take anything at all away from Blondie -- or Carl -- but Matt does a killer live reading of WH.

Two new dates for Brian and Al:
Nov. 11 -- Waukegan, IL (Genesee Theatre)
Nov. 14 -- Cincinnati, OH (Taft Theatre)

Ahhhh yeahhh!!  

AWESOME!  Anyone know when the Cincinnati tickets will go on sale?  I don't see it at ticketmaster or on brianwilson.com

[HeyJude]

Al's just going business casual with the sneakers. With the exception of Bruce's shorts, most anything these guys have worn on stage in the last decade and a half has bettered the pit of despair known as the 80s and 90s:







The 70s weren't exactly stellar either:

[filledeplage]

Oooohh -- looking dapper in that blue suit, Al!

 

The suit is cool. The sneakers... not so much. 

Andrew - I think the high tops are kinda cool. After all these years Al could still "get away with" that white suit because he wears it confidently.

Brian has worn sneakers for years. More sure-footed with all those wires all over the place. Beats a broken hip. 

[KDS]

The only time I ever thought footwear at a concert was glaring with when I saw Roger Waters do The Wall in DC five years ago.  As usual, he was dressed in black shirt, and black slacks, but his tennis shoes were snow white.  I found that a little odd. 

Back to the tour, I'd love to see some NPP tracks he didn't do over the summer.  Maybe Whatever Happened. 

[HeyJude]

I'm guessing they've probably exhausted as much as they're going to do from NPP, as far as adding new songs. You never know, of course. But usually it's the first tour after the album comes out where you get the biggest dose of the new album. At this stage, he has actually (at least recently) dropped one of the songs ("Runaway Dancer") and hasn't added anything.

[filledeplage]

The only time I ever thought footwear at a concert was glaring with when I saw Roger Waters do The Wall in DC five years ago.  As usual, he was dressed in black shirt, and black slacks, but his tennis shoes were snow white.  I found that a little odd. 

Back to the tour, I'd love to see some NPP tracks he didn't do over the summer.  Maybe Whatever Happened. 

My kids hated wearing shoes with their school uniforms.

Some very good sneakers come in all black.

Problem solved!

[KDS]

The only time I ever thought footwear at a concert was glaring with when I saw Roger Waters do The Wall in DC five years ago.  As usual, he was dressed in black shirt, and black slacks, but his tennis shoes were snow white.  I found that a little odd. 

Back to the tour, I'd love to see some NPP tracks he didn't do over the summer.  Maybe Whatever Happened. 

My kids hated wearing shoes with their school uniforms.

Some very good sneakers come in all black.

Problem solved!

I've seen Roger, and many other musicians wear all black sneakers on stage before.  The Tran Siberian Orchestra usually wears black suits, but they wear the black sneakers for comfort since they're standing on stage for two and a half hours. 

As for NPP, I'm not too sad to see Runaway Dancer dropped off the set.  I know they did This Beautiful Day and Saturday Night at Soundstage, so the band knows the songs.